Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will not be available for any of the postseason.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the severity of Watson's injury on Monday, a day after the 2022 second-round pick out of North Dakota State was carried to the locker room in the second quarter of a 24-game loss. -22 against the Chicago Bears.
The injury leaves Green Bay without its top deep threat as the Packers (11-6) go on the road to face the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) in the wild card round on Sunday.
Watson had 29 receptions for 620 yards and two touchdowns this season.
“I hurt for him,” LaFleur said. “Obviously I hurt for our team, but more so for him, because I know how much he's put into this, as have all of our guys.” You never want to see that.'
LaFleur also said he wasn't sure if quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis would face any limitations in practice this week.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has torn his ACL
Watson, 25, was running a pattern when he suffered a non-contact injury Sunday.
Love left the Bears game with what the team described as an elbow injury, later saying he had lost feeling in his throwing hand but should be fine for the Eagles game.
Love noted that he took some warm-up passes late in the game when Willis was dealing with a hand issue.
“I talked to those two guys,” LaFleur said. “They seem to be doing well, but as far as their limits, I think they're going to be fine, but we'll know in the next couple of days.”
Watson, 25, was running a pattern when he suffered a non-contact injury and began clutching his right knee.
Watson had missed the Packers' 27-25 loss at Minnesota a week earlier with a left knee injury, but practiced on a limited basis Friday.
LaFleur said Watson had inquired Friday about playing the Bears as long as he could practice that day.
LaFleur acknowledged that there was “a lot of discussion” about whether to play him and that the Packers had planned to give him only limited snaps.
The Packers had been dealing with depth issues at receiver because Romeo Doubs was out with an illness. LaFleur said Monday that Doubs is feeling better now.
The injury leaves Green Bay without its top deep threat for its wild card game against the Eagles.
Injuries have hampered Watson for much of his three-year professional career, although he has primarily dealt with hamstring issues in the past.
After appearing in just nine games in 2023, Watson worked to strengthen his hamstrings and appeared in a career-high 15 games this season.
Now he must deal with his most serious injury yet.
“I know he's going to attack it the right way,” LaFleur said.
'He will handle adversity. It will just be an obstacle in the way for him. I think he will come back better. That's how it's built. This is how it is connected.